Muslim civil rights group says Nobel Prize committee’s decision to award supporter of anti-Muslim fascism and Israel’s far right over opponents of Gaza genocide ‘insulting and unacceptable’
The Council on American-Islamic Relations, the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today called on Nobel Peace Prize winner, Venezuelan politician Maria Corina Machado, to apologize for and renounce her support for anti-Muslim fascism in Europe and her alliance with Israel’s openly racist Likud Party.
CAIR also said that the Nobel Prize committee’s decision to recognize Machado despite her support for racist, anti-Muslim and fascist movements was “insulting” to the many potential honorees around the world who advocate justice for all people, including the journalists, activists, and politicians who have taken great risks to oppose the genocide in Gaza.
In a statement, Washington, D.C., basedCAIR said:
“The Nobel Peace Prize should go to individuals who have shown moral consistency by bravely advocating justice for all people, not to politicians who demand democracy in their own nation while supporting racism, bigotry and fascism abroad.
“We strongly disagree with the Nobel Prize committee’s decision to award this year’s peace prize to Maria Corina Machado, a supporter of Israel’s racist Likud Party who earlier this year delivered remarks at a conference of European fascists, including Geert Wilders and Marie Le Pen, which openly called for a new Reconquista, referencing the ethnic cleansing of Spanish Muslims and Jews in the 1500s.
“We call on Ms. Machado to renounce her support for the Likud Party and anti-Muslim fascism in Europe. If she refuses to do so, the Nobel Prize committee should reconsider its decision, which has undermined its own reputation. An anti-Muslim bigot and supporter of European fascism would have no place being mentioned alongside the likes of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and other worthy winners of the Nobel Peace Prize.”
“The Nobel Peace Prize committee should instead recognize an honoree who has shown moral consistency by bravely pursuing justice for all people, such as one of the students, journalists, activists, medical professionals who have risked their careers and even their lives to oppose the crime of our time: the genocide in Gaza.”
In February, Machado delivered virtual remarks at the far-right Patriots of Europe conference in Madrid, where speakers included anti-Muslim extremists Geert Wilders, Marie Le Pen and Viktor Orban.
SEE: Orban, Le Pen hail Trump at far-right ‘Patriots’ summit in Madrid
Reuters reported in February, “All the speakers railed against immigration and most called for a new “Reconquista,” a reference to the Medieval re-conquest of Muslim-controlled parts of the Iberian Peninsula by Christian kingdoms. Earlier, former Estonian Finance Minister Martin Helme kicked off the rally following a video message by Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado.”
Machado has been a stronger supporter of the Israeli government, specifically the far-right, anti-Muslim and racist Likud Party led by Benjamin Netanyahu. Machado personally signed off on formal “alliance” between her Venezuelan political party and the Likud Party in 2020. She has also declared, “The struggle of Venezuela is the struggle of Israel.”
SEE:Signed Vente Venezuela-Likud Party Agreement
SEE: Machado Declares Struggle of Venezuela is Struggle of Israel
Machado has also said that she would move Venezuela’s Embassy to Israel to Jerusalem in recognition of its illegal occupation of the entire city.
SEE: Machado on Israel-Venezuela Relations
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CONTACT: CAIR National Deputy Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell, 404-285-9530, e-Mitchell@cair.com; CAIR Government Affairs Director Robert McCaw, 202-742-6448, rmccaw@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, ihooper@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Manager Ismail Allison, 202-770-6280, iallison@cair.com